Yes, Britain is imposing all sorts of austerity measures on its citizens, and while I won’t get into a discussion about the absurdity of government controlled education, I will point out that students are having their benefits cut far more drastically than any other segment of the population.

Are pensioners seeing their costs triple? No. Are middle-aged workers seeing 50% tax hikes? No. Aside from the very small segment of high-income earners who will be forever robbed and pillaged of their wealth, the younger generation is next in line to receive the butt end of the crisis fallout.

Younger folks have comparatively lower incomes, benefits, job opportunities, and political clout than their seniors, yet they are increasingly expected to assume a disproportionately larger burden of the consequences of government folly.

It’s the younger generation that is called on to go fight and die in pointless wars in faraway lands; it’s the younger generation that is forced to assume the debts of their forefathers; and it’s the younger generation that gets relegated to the back rows of the political amphitheater and dismissed by the establishment.

Meanwhile, retirees aren’t seeing massive benefits cuts, and middle-aged income earners are being protected by politicians. In fact, let’s take a minute and look at the looming fate of the average young person today:

Your government-run university tuition is going to go through the roof, saddling you with unfathomable debt before you even enter the world as an adult.

Once you graduate, you’ll be the last in the hiring queue.

If you do get hired, you’ll be the lowest on the totem pole and the first to be let go when tough times befall your business.

When the labor market eventually stabilizes, you’ll enter your prime earning years with some of the highest tax rates ever seen as your government continues to cannibalize your generation to pay off its largess and indebted entitlement programs that benefited older generations.

For your entire working life, you’ll pay into a pension system that is going to be bankrupt by the time you’re qualified to draw on it.

More than likely, you’ll never achieve the standard of living that your parents achieved.

Whatever wealth your parents accumulated won’t be left to you — the bulk of it will be confiscated by the state (unless your folks were smart enough to plant multiple flags) due to a host of death taxes.

If you’re of the Facebook generation, this is going to be the standard storyline of your peers. The system that’s in place right now — the failed cycle of debt and consumption fed by continuous government intervention — has stuck you with the bill.

The old playbook of “go to school, get a good job, work your way up the ladder” simply doesn’t apply anymore.

Fortunately, as always, there’s a silver lining. Younger people are generally less anchored and more mobile than their elders, hence it’s much easier to opt out of this perverse system.

If you’re angry that your government is saddling you with the responsibility to pay off generations of bad decisions, then get out of dodge. Stop playing by the same rules of the game that used to work in the past. The old playbook of “go to school, get a good job, work your way up the ladder” simply doesn’t apply anymore.

Don’t stick around a society that has completely forsaken you and is waiting with knife and fork in hand to carve up your earnings once you finally enter the labor market. Get out of dodge now, while it’s easy to do and you have little to risk.

Go explore the world and get an education based on experience, not expensive academic theory. Seek opportunities in thriving, frontier markets overseas, places like Kurdistan, Mongolia, Botswana, and Kazakhstan. Soak up the local intelligence and become the grease guy on the ground who can make things happen.

Find people whose lifestyles you want to emulate and make yourself indispensable to them as an apprentice. This will be the only time in your life that you can afford to work for nothing in exchange for a valuable, first-hand education.

Most importantly, stop playing by everyone else’s rules. Refuse to be enslaved by the idea that it’s your civic and moral responsibility to pay off the debts of your government’s failures. Cast off the yoke of their control and summon the courage to live a life by your own design.

The path to prosperity in the Age of Turmoil depends on this ability to reject the old system, declare your economic independence, and carve your own path.

This is a classic paradox, isn’t it? While Europeans are protesting government cutbacks, US Americans are unhappy about government spending. 🙂

In addition to the arguments you lay out about tangible issues, I think that gen Y (that includes me) will suffer more from indecision on bigger and intangible issues such as climate change, politics of fossil fuel and unsustainable lifestyles…

Yes! Great article. Other solutions I suggest are to become a location-independent freelancer with a steady clientele, or…. if you can’t beat them, join them: get a government job. You will work little, get paid no matter what, and they can’t fire you.

dave

You know what is great about this situation? This situation will last only 20 years at the most. The generation that has political and economic power at the moment will eventually get old and die, and generation Y will BE IN POWER!!!

But seriously, when we do come into power, we’re going to make some serious changes to the structures of the world. We know the problems of the world are currently being caused by the older generation in power. We don’t want wars, we don’t want corporate empires, and we certainly do not fear each other like our parents do…

The children of the 60s said pretty much the same thing, and I think a lot of them are in power right now. Just sayin’.

rep gordo

Good one. I had a nice laugh at that. Like regular people have ever controlled anything. Most people are happy just to amuse themselves to death.

dave

For the younger generations today, the psychological playing ground has been leveled. We’re born into a globalized world in an era of material excess; greed and fear of survival isn’t as significant for us as the older generations born during WWII or post WWII. The 18 year old son of whatever CEO of whatever major corporation will die of depression if he tries to make it to adulthood trying to continue the corporate domination.. that I can guarantee you. We’re cleaning up the psychological dirt of the past generations. The majority of today’s youth are on antidepressants…

Dustin

Agreed Kelly, its a vicious cycle that the younger, more naive generation always believes will change when our time comes. At 26, I’m sorry to say how disenchanted I have become with the entire system. “Change” comes but everything remains the same. As disheartening of an outlook as that is, I feel its pretty spot on. The older generation always reaps the greater benefit while the younger hope to correct whats wrong in the future. By the time the young become old, they have typically succumb to, and work with, the system they grew up hating.

dave

Yes, I’m aware of the vicious cycle. I don’t expect someone outside of our own generation understand this but, gen Y has a very specific crisis. There is a huge percentage of youth these days who have depression and other mental illnesses. Know why? The hate, fear, and psychological barriers of our parents and the older generations no longer serve a purpose; people in the modern world feel no need to kill each other to survive anymore.. so now, the hate and the fear has turned inwards and is poisoning the souls of the youth. Ever hear of the mass youth suicides in Japan?

If most of Gen Y live to become middle aged adults without having already committed suicide, we will definetly be ones to stop the vicious cycle..

As a species, we have certainly risen above the basic struggle to survive; the modern world is materially properous to an excess. But now, the youth must deal with the psychological residue and outdated social standards of the past milleniums of war and killing each other to survive.

So, thank god for depression and unhappiness in the modern world, it means we’re cleaning out the wounds of survival. In the way past, we wouldn’t feel depressed if we were busy killing each other over morsels of food. hahaha!

What an odd fusion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the long-term traveler’s “break free of the cubicle!” mantra mixed with the standard right-wing “get your government hands out of my pockets!” doctrine quite like this before. I suppose they share a similar element of rebellion, but still, it’s jarring. FOX News meets Kerouac.

I’d like to argue with this, so much, but it’s hard to focus on clear points and rebuttals when all I really want to say is: This does not represent me. I don’t see myself as a victim of taxation and government controls. I don’t believe that I am getting “screwed.” I don’t believe that paying a portion of my income into a safety net for the less fortunate in my society makes me “enslaved.” I don’t look at the world the way the author does – not even a little bit – and I’m glad that I don’t.

The people who are really getting “screwed” in our society today? The ones who are truly “lowest on the totem pole”? They’re not the ones who have to worry about the estate taxes on their parents’ wealth, I know that much for sure. The privilege at work here, it’s astounding.

I completely agree with you, Eva, both on the awkward combination of thoughts and on the blind privilege. I started ticking at the phrase “government controlled education” and the rest was downhill from there. There is something to be said about the unique position, economical in particular, Gen Y is in, but I feel this article misses the point.

How could a fear based mentality lead to a healthy and open minded exploration of other cultures? I’m all for carving your own path, but this usually works better if you have something to aspire to, not simply something to run away from and a desire to stick it to the Man.

Sarita

How about Kerouac meets Kerouac? Why do you feel the ideas of rejecting extreme taxation and wanting the freedom to live how one sees fit disagree with one another? You say because you have not “seen it” before. I disagree with your sentiment that a writer requires prior justification for a belief. For prior justification of this former statement please see Ayn Rand.

“As an aside, doesn’t Matador have a strict policy against pseudonyms?”

Can’t get anything by you Eva! 🙂 I guess like everything else in this world, nothing is black and white and there are always exceptions. In this case, “Simon Black” is an established identity (http://www.sovereignman.com/simon-black/), so he has a history. It’s a bit different than someone just making up a name to publish an article he/she doesn’t want to be identified for. There are also other circumstances in which the “legitimacy” of Simon has been verified.

As a Yank with tens of thousands of debt from college and grad school, it’s furthermore hard to sympathize with the Brits who had such a cushy deal up til now. Especially because the government was subsidizing most students’ living expenses (aka pub trips).

Dave

You realise the maintenance loan (not a grant unless your poor) barely covers rent in most places right? you need other sources of income to study.

You know, I do sympathize. I do think it’s shit that uni costs so much and I do applaud students for putting their voices into action. In my ideal world, all education would be free, and being a student for life would be perfectly acceptable.

But I do think we don’t normally compare things to an ideal world–we usually compare them to the existing world around us. I know US students paid a lot more, and I’m pretty sure ozzies and kiwis did too. I am sorry that the British education system is coming down to the mean, and sorrier that the mean is at such a low level. But it doesn’t change that for everyone who already deals with this unpleasantness, this isn’t earth-shattering or world ending. Just kind of sad.

You won’t get screwed if…you don’t want to. Stop winning about the governments, political situations and “all the injustice in the world”. And please, for God’s sake, stop telling people to “become location Independent” …Have you LIVED ( not visited, lived) in countries like Kazakhstan and Mongolia ? cause I did, and let me tell you, that no matter how “hard” it is to live in US or UK , it’s still paradise comparing to those counties.

Carla is right, if you can’t beat them, join them: get a government job. If you want to be “location independent/rebel” – live in a trailer, grow your own food, work for cash, leave no ( government ) trail, join freaking Hells Angels….Been there, done that…and you know what ? Having a real home, real food ( and not just potatoes and beef jerky), and money ( from a legal, boring job ) that pays for fun stuff in my life beats the hell out of “independence”…

This article reads like a giant dummy spit. Opting out because you perceive that you are being deprived of something – well you won’t get much out of it.

Sammy

Too bad as generation Y we are completely to apathetic to do anything about it. That’s right….Gen Y is considered one of the least involved younger generations in history. We are too busy playing on our smart phones to care about anything else. We want things handed to us and as a whole are viewed as being very lazy. All this and we are growing up in one of the toughest economies ever. We need to look out ourselves and make a change.

oldman

Before suggesting things like this you should look at history first. You are suggest the same thing that happened not to long ago. Feel free to look up the 60’s study a little bit. The greatest problem your generation has is that is a generation of consumers and not creators. You refuse to solve problems expecting things to be handed to you. This will only lead to creating more problems. This is not your fault is has been a steady decline in society for a long time now. You can fix it. You can change it. Now and in the future. The way to do is is not to run but to stand and fight and make your voices heard. You have to create change not run from it. What you have stated has been said for many generations that your life will be worse then your parents and so on. How about making a real change and do something about it so your kids can blame you for the problems you create.

carrotroot

You guys are angry because they raised the cap on your education to $15,000? Oh please cry me a river! I wish there were such a cap in the US when I was going to College just a few years ago. My wife and I could buy a $200,000 home just from our school debt.

Obviously you havent travelled. Oh you think that bc you made a choice to get into school debt makes you a tough guy? In ONE DAY tuition was tripled. Its called empathy. You dont need to pay $100,000 to know what that is.

Kevin

@Sammy: Being viewed as, and being are two totally different things. I don’t know about you, but most of my (our?) generation that I know is highly involved and pushing to make a difference.

Just because we are not involved in the same way. or in the same areas as previous generations does not mean we’re not involved and aware as a whole. It’s difficult to compare the world we’re in today to the world even ten years ago, let alone the world Gen X and earlier generations came up in.

What I take away from this post is that the concept of “breaking free” is gaining traction beyond the usual demographics. As Eva said, I’ve never before seen the marriage of right-wing anti-tax spiel and the “go live in a yurt in Mongolia” mentality. Travel is a big tent.

Ihumblydisagree

Since when is getting the buck passed exclusive to our generation? Our grandparents sent our parents to Vietnam. Our great grandparents sent our grandparents to WWII. How about instead of complaining, we stick around, tough it out, and try to make this country a better place for future generations? That would actually be something different and more noble than what this author suggests.

Shame

Hmmm, this all sounds familiar. Oh, I know why, it’s EXACTLY what happened to GenerationX.
Oh, and 15,000 is nothing whether you measure in USD or GBP. University cost me almost $100,000 USD.

Sorry mate, you’ll not hear much commiseration from me. Students in the UK should be absolutely chuffed they’re going to get out of a degree program with only 15k in debt, and from far better institutions than we have here in the US.

Dave

£9,000 + living
estimating living at £5,000
= £14,000

per year… not total

current exchange rate makes that about $21,500

a 4 year course = $86,000

Glad to your $100,000 education gave you a good grounding in maths. 😛

Cornelious

People commenting on this article must not have read it!
Everyone keeps hitting on the statement that the UK is raising tuition cap to 15,000 and comparing it to the 100,000 they spent on their education in the US. Then further stating “Students in the UK should be absolutely chuffed they’re going to get out of a degree program with only 15k in debt”….This may be true, they are lucky that they can receive a great education for much cheaper then us in the states, BUT, the point being made in this article is that the UK is taking steps that could change their education system into the same bureaucratic money making machines that our universities are here in the US. Is that not worth taking a stand on? I without a doubt think so. I wish past generations would have fought to keep prices down for us in the US.

Another example of a reader who didn’t really read and just commented:
…”it’s furthermore hard to sympathize with the Brits who had such a cushy deal up til now. Especially because the government was subsidizing most students’ living expenses (aka pub trips).” And this doesn’t happen in the US? The article never asks anyone to sympathize with the situation but instead uses it as an example of the “snowball” being formed that may in our time become much larger.

Ahimsa

That was my comment and I did read the article. This is an interesting dialogue and condescending remarks like that aren’t necessary.

I didn’t get “living expenses” financial aid in the US but that was in the late 90’s. Maybe it’s changed. When I studied abroad in the UK, most of my friends drank away most of their government money. Many of them shouted me, so I’m not exactly complaining, just commenting on something I’ve noticed. That is a little beside the point, though.

Traveling instead climbing the corporate ladder is one thing, but arguing that traveling instead of getting an education (whatever the cost) is a far more difficult stance to hold. Without a grounding in basic education, a lot of what travel offers is going to be diluted. For instance, I loved Athens because I knew about the history; walking in the plaka after reading Aristophanes or even Plato was a surreal experience.

I have to admit I have a hard time sympathizing when most of the same points apply to 20-somethings in the US, plus the extra tuition money (hey-oh, 50-grand a year!) and the truly horrid student loan laws that favor the loan companies.

But, then again, I wasn’t happy with the opportunities I was faced with in the US, so I moved to Kyrgyzstan (cheaper than Kazakhstan!). I think there is a positive message to be taken away from this article, that there are unconventional opportunities out there for the younger generation, but not just for the reason that you think your government is screwing your chances at a good future. It doesn’t have to be “opting out”, just a different path.

“The consequences of government folly”? Excuse me for pointing out the truth, but it was the reckless actions of private corporations that caused the financial meltdown which is affecting British government revenue so much that it’s putting up tuition fees.

People are protesting because they feel it’s unfair to effectively make the public pay for private companies’ greed and folly. You American right-wingers really are bizarre, the way you constantly ignore reality in favour of twisting events into a backing for your “small government” argument.

What we really need are governments with the guts to properly regulate corporate activity and to spread the wealth of nations beyond the grasping 1% at the top of the heap.

Sarita

Rather than berating UK students for fighting for fairly-priced education, like many of those above, I applaud them. If American students had done this when prices started to get out of control, many of my friends, who received their schooling before the effects of the financial crisis, wouldn’t be in $50,000.00 to $90,000.00 worth of debt. Instead, as Americans do, we chalked large debt up to “the way of the world” and sought refuge in “ignorance now, dues later.” Even with “well-paying” jobs, these individuals are struggling under the weight of college debt repayment.
College is an industry, and like the food industry comprised of companies like Pepsi, with it’s concentration on high-fructose, addicting products, it is not designed with consumers in mind. We’ve become addicted to sugar-like schooling. College for the sake of college, instead of education. And the priority given to student loan companies over students just underscores predatory characteristic of the system.
Student loan debt is the shackle of modern society. In fact, ANY DEBT, is a shackle, but government and industries want us to fully subscribe to it. Why? Because it pins you down to a location, a career, a life-style. We’re told we can’t survive without it and no price too high to pay for it. No other generation has been faced with a shackle this heavy. Few generations have inherited such a high cost of living, coupled with a decimated job market. And to top it off, we’ve been marginalized before we’ve even entered the game.
While I don’t believe every other generation is to blame, it is ludicrous and so very complacently American to describe my generation as whiny because we have a voice and the policy made today is staving off hardship for our future. Every one of us can’t be a politician and certainly the majority of us are too young to see our influence realized. For now, all we can do is SPEAK UP. Or, as we lose more and more control over our futures, “get out of dodge” as the author says…
As far as this whole UK vs US debate. There’s always going to be someone in a worse situation than yourself. Does that mean you should be complacent to the injustice YOU are facing? Again, big ups to the UK students fighting for what’s fair. Maybe American students will take a hint and at the very least, stop borrowing so much money.
-working-class girl.

Wow, wonderfully thought out response. Love it. Pretty much, American students, wake up and take some action!

Sarita

and to those saying my generation only wants hand-outs and can’t solve problems, that’s laughable. All we will be handed are compounded problems that previous generations couldn’t solve. In your eyes, because I’m not starving now, I should relax and be merry. What my generation wants are not riches now, but a chance for the prosperity that hard work provides, a future. Maybe in that way we are different than other generations who have concentrated too much on today, rather than tomorrow.

cornelius catalpa

RIGHT ON

ergin selim gonen

As a Gen Y I’ve to admit we are beyond retaining our divested rights. Things have been, since the invention of steam machine, so intertwined that it is very hard for us to undo the damage inflicted. But I do have hope that we still have time to rebuild future for our successors.
We do have very little power to shape things up. Although we have rights and every opportunity to change our paths from orthodox(not related to religion) standards, it will remain as a personal effort and – let’s face it- is futile at opposing goliath. A collective scale on the other hand is very very hard to attain since most of us, imho, will avert risk because of how we were raised. Only option left is to abide the rules of the game as little as possible to seize the power to change things (no i am not forfeiting anything and i am not in favor of any fascist government act in return for a decent life)
Besides life at listed countries, by the way there is no country as Kurdistan, is very harsh. There are no guarantees of acquiring anything, let alone afore mentioned opportunities. That’s why they are laggards and there are no enlightenment over there. Maybe one can hunt wisdom of patience but no help for education (sorry).
I may oppose the proposal of Simon but appreciate the effort. Keep up the good work we need ideas to be david of the story..

Gene

The phrase is “Get out of Dodge” as in get out of Dodge City, KS. A rough and tumble wild west city. I do not believe the author is aware of the meaning of his much used metaphor even if it being used somewhat correctly.

Two comments from someone born right in the middle of the “Baby Boom”. First of all, college used to be dirt cheap. In fact, it is was possible to attend a state university and then earn enough money during the summer to pay for tuition. One contributing factor to this phenomena might have been the Vietnam War and the draft system, which may have actually caused an increase in college enrollment.

Also, be aware that things change or at least your view of the world changes with time. During the ’70’s it was a common belief among young adults that Social Security would not be around in the 21st century. Time has proven that this viewpoint was highly exaggerated.

Best of luck,

Henri

Glen

To me, it sounds like the author has a huge sense of entitlement. Of course an entry-level position will be at the bottom of the totem pole. If we all expect to be CEO right out of the gate, we will end up being angry just like this author.

That said, in my experience, travel has been my best teacher too, so I agree there. Plus this author started a good conversation. Cheers!

“As a Yank with tens of thousands of debt from college and grad school, it’s furthermore hard to sympathize with the Brits who had such a cushy deal up til now”

@Ahisma I think this is a major thought process problem…that many of us have come to accept certain things as “just being the way they are” and becoming OK with it. Just because the average Masters student in the US needs to go into debt of 100K, doesn’t mean that’s normal/acceptable. You should be sympathizing and empathizing with those who’ve had “cushy” tuition deals up to now, you should be supporting that. Not saying, “just because I’m 100K in debt, everyone else should be too.”

I think commenters here are getting so defensive because deep down they know something is wrong, but don’t see any way out of it, so are going along and feel the need to defend their choices strongly.

@Eva I hear what you’re saying, but like Hal said “it’s a big tent.” There are varying degrees of everything. It’s an analog world with infinite possibilities, not digital/binary.

That’s really not what I’m saying, though my initial statement did lean that way. I think I clarified in later statements. And while I agree that citing the status quo, however faulty it may be, is not a very insightful response, neither are platitudes that it’s a world with infinite possibilities. No one really thinks it’s an either/or world, and ignoring social realities furthers no discourses. I don’t think anyone would argue that uni should cost more or close to what it does. Many probably accept, however, that an education is valuable enough to pay the cost, whatever it is.

David Rochlin

I meet retirees from UK who say their pension benefits were actually looted by previous governments. Maybe some pension funds are intact too, but some retirees got robbed. I think a couple of years ago, the situation was better for finding work abroad, but today, 2011 the opportunities are fewer and you have to be more careful. It is harder to find foreign patrons to throw money at Westerners these days. You have to have a skill that is needed, not necessarily a University education, but some sort of technical skill that is in demand.

I couldn’t agree with you more.
You have just described that path I have taken in life.
Experience is the ultimate wisdom & it’s FREE if you contribute to the community.
Spandy Andy

Andrea

As a college professor in the US and parent of this age group….I am disheartened when I ask my freshmen why they are in college and they say, because my parents want me to have health insurance. I point out how much health insurance they could buy with college tuition!
I tell my children that the current world is changing so fast that the best path is to do what you want, study what you want, travel, have adventures since there is no one well worn path to success anymore.
However, my students all want to be MDs and are willing to take up the debt required to become one in the US even as the whole health care system is teetering. Their dreams for success and financial stability are not in line with the way things are going!
No one can see the future but starting out with a huge debt is a ball and chain.

I escaped Thatcher’s Britain by travelling the world in my twenties, and then went to UK uni in my thirties, when the grants were getting replaced by loans.

It’s been a steady decline in funding since, and although it’s a shame, it’s not like it’s an isolated cutback. Although students and prospective students have a right to object and feel aggrieved it’s not like the money is being taken from education and being spent on nuclear weapons or royalty.

The country, and Europe, is in financial difficulties, and just about everything in the UK is getting less money, from the military to mental health.

While I value university education, I haven’t prospered financially from my arts and social science degrees, and think you can learn more from travel and self-study (tv, books and internet) in many ways.

Main lesson I learnt was to analyse info, and not jump in and believe what seems like persuasive evidence. TV docs usually have most of the newest and best theories, so they can be a great short-cut to current knowledge.

Johnny Bronx

Yeah…and the under 30 crowd is going to screw itself by thinking it’s going to get a trophy just for showing up, like they did when their school started with that self-esteem movement crap. And if you think that the under 30 crowd, a generation that was raised to believe they’re entitled to lavish rewards and unearned praise for little effort, is going to do the work necessary to fix things, I’ve got a bridge for sale.

Blame the “guvmint” if you want. But, the under 30 crowd is its own worst enemy.

BatLiz

I’m in the under 30 crowd, but I encourage the others to be lame ducks so that I can the job opportunities. hahahahahahaha While they wait around for hand outs and are confused by the lack of money falling to their feet, I sweep in and confuse the older generations by working my ass off. It will (probably not) pay off one day!

I agree with your conclusions and recommendations but I question some of your statements about why the under thirty group are getting shafted. It is not because “retirees aren’t seeing massive benefits cuts, and middle-aged income earners are being protected by politicians”. This is the lie the politicians and ultra-rich want you to believe.

The truth is we are all getting shafted, young, middle-aged income earners and retirees. The only people who have been gaining in the last thirty years are the upper 5%, more specifically the upper 1%, and even more than that, the upper 0.1%. More wealth is now controlled by the upper 1% than at any time in the last 100 years.

Articles such as this, pitting young against old and/or working man against retiree, just further serves our “masters” purposes of keeping us divided and fighting over the scraps that fall from their table.